Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the single point of contact for all EU citizens who wish to work for the European Institutions.
Contract agents
There are two types of contract agents:
- contract agents on a contract of limited duration (up to a maximum of six years) work at Commission headquarters;
- contract agents on longer-term contracts can work in satellite offices, agencies and eventually in EU delegations.
To work in Commission (Headquarters and Delegations) candidates need to have successfully passed a full CAST competition.
For more information regarding "Who may apply ?" and the generic notice about vacancies, please visit the dedicated section.
Trainees
The European Commission has an official traineeship scheme mainly aimed at young university graduates. For further information, please consult the traineeship web pages.
Seconded national experts (SNE)
SNEs are typically seconded from the civil services of EU Member States. They are usually recruited via their Permanent Representations to the EU.
Please read carefully the eligibility criteria.
Temporary agents
In exceptional circumstances, NEAR may consider engaging temporary agents.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
ENTITY | NEAR.D.3.DEL.North Macedonia.91 – Cooperation NORTH MACEDONIA, Skopje |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 15%) |
TITLE | Programme Manager- Reform and Growth Facility |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453650 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation, to take forward the implementation of the Growth Plan for North Macedonia, including through the coordination of policy dialogue and of monitoring, assessment and reporting of progress in the fulfilment of the qualitative and quantitative steps set out in the partner countries’ respective Reform Agendas, as well as coordination of the related decision making and financial workflows for disbursements. Under the supervision of an official, to take forward the overall coordination of the EU Delegation's contribution to formulation, implementation and monitoring of project under the Western Balkan Investment Framework, especially within the context of the additional ringfenced resources allocated under the Reform and Growth Facility. |
CONTACT | Steffen [dot] HUDOLINeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Mr Steffen HUDOLIN) Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: Delegation-north-macedonia-recruitmentseeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Delegation-north-macedonia-recruitments[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) with copy to: Steffen [dot] HUDOLINeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Mr Steffen HUDOLIN) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. |
DEADLINE | 31 October 2024 |
ENTITY | NEAR.R.4.DEL.West Bank and Gaza Strip.006 WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP, East Jerusalem |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 30%) |
TITLE | Finance and Contracts Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 82885 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | To ensure, under the supervision of the Head of Section and the Deputy Head of Section, that the contractual (creation and management of legal commitments) and financial (budgetary commitments and de-commitments, payments, recoveries) management of projects and programs of development aid and of financial and technical cooperation with third countries is carried out in line with the overall instructions given by HQ. To assist the Head of Section and the Deputy Head of Section in coordinating the sub-section’s activities, where required. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-WEST-BANK-GAZA-RECRUITMENT-CAeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (DELEGATION-WEST-BANK-GAZA-RECRUITMENT-CA[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) with copy to: Ute [dot] KOCHeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ute[dot]KOCH[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) (Ms Ute Koch, Head of Finance, Contracts and Audit) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
DEADLINE | 6 November 2024 |
ENTITY | NEAR.D.3.DEL.Albania.002 Team Cooperation |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 15%) |
TITLE | Programme Manager – Reform and Growth Facility – Social and Economic development |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453590 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to take forward the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with focus and specifically for Albania, including through the coordination of policy dialogue and of monitoring and assessment of progress in the fulfilment of the qualitative and quantitative steps set out in the partner countries’ respective Reform Agendas, as well as coordination of the related decision making and financial workflows for disbursements. Under the supervision of an official, to take forward the overall coordination of the EU Delegation's contribution to formulation, implementation and monitoring of project under the Western Balkan Investment Framework, especially within the context of the additional ringfenced resources allocated under the Reform and Growth Facility. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: Delegation-Albania-Jobseeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Delegation-Albania-Jobs[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu); In copy: Mr Andrea FERRERO Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility Fund and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 8 November 2024 |
ENTITY | NEAR.D.3.DEL.Albania.003 Team Cooperation |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 15%) |
TITLE | Programme Manager – Reform and Growth Facility – Justice, Home Affairs and Good Governance |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453640 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to take forward the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with focus and specifically for Albania, including through the coordination of policy dialogue and of monitoring and assessment of progress in the fulfilment of the qualitative and quantitative steps set out in the partner countries’ respective Reform Agendas, as well as coordination of the related decision making and financial workflows for disbursements, with a specific focus on Pillar 5 (Rule of Law), public administration reform, land governance/property rights and anti-corruption. Under the supervision of an official, manage the relevant programmes of support to European Integration ensuring that the EU Integration support and the Growth Plan are coherent and mutually supportive to promote the alignment of Albanian legislation and regulations to the relevant EU acquis. |
CONTACT | Cinzia [dot] tarlettieeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ms Cinzia TARLETTI) Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: Delegation-Albania-Jobseeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Delegation-Albania-Jobs[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu); In copy: Cinzia [dot] tarlettieeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ms Cinzia TARLETTI) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility Fund and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 8 November 2024 |
ENTITY | NEAR.B.1.DEL.Syria.003 Operations |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 30%) |
TITLE | Programme Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 260157 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Section: The Programme Officer will contribute to the definition and implementation of EU-funded assistance managed by the Operations Section of the EU Delegation to Syria, in line with the EU Council Conclusions of 27 May 2024 and in particular with the resilience component of the “Elements for an EU Strategy for Syria” adopted by the Council in 2017 and reiterated in the Council Conclusions of 2018. The main emphasis of the job is promoting early recovery actions on livelihoods, agriculture and rural development and support to private sector, that could help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the Syrian people and provide the basis for peaceful and inclusive post-conflict recovery. In the areas of her/his responsibility, s/he will also be asked to provide analytical inputs on a regular basis for the EU to better align its assistance to Syria to the evolution of the situation; in particular by supporting the resilience of the Syrian civilian population, with a particular focus on the creation of jobs through community-based and locally-owned approaches that generate revenues and promote a sense of empowerment. The sectors covered by the job may however evolve and flexibility is important, in particular with a view to replacing absent colleagues and/or supporting the section and Delegation on emerging priorities. |
CONTACT | alessandra [dot] viezzereeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Ms. Alessandra Viezzer), Head of Cooperation Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-SYRIA-RECRUITMENTeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (DELEGATION-SYRIA-RECRUITMENT[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) with copy to: alessandra [dot] viezzereeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (alessandra[dot]viezzer[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) and cyril [dot] dewaleyneeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (cyril[dot]dewaleyne[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
DEADLINE | 15 November 2024 |
ENTITY | NEAR.R.4.DEL.Ukraine.007 – Team Finance and Contracts UKRAINE, Kyiv - temporarily evacuated in Brussels, Belgium |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 40%) |
TITLE | Finance and Contracts Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 455109 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | To perform financial and contractual management of projects and contracts in compliance with the applicable rules and to provide support and advice to operational colleagues on financial & contractual issues, under the supervision of an official Please note that this post is financed under the Ukraine Facility Fund and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-UKRAINE-JOBSeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (DELEGATION-UKRAINE-JOBS[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) with copy to: Alexandru [dot] MITULeeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (Alexandru[dot]MITUL[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and must be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
DEADLINE | 18 November 2024 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
ENTITY | Brussels – DG.NEAR.Dir.D.4 Unit – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Policy Assistant - European Integration - Sectoral desk European Integration - Sectoral desk Connectivity and Green Agenda |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 339537 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to the definition, coordination and implementation of EU policies concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, with a particular focus on alignment with the EU acquis and obligations under the Stabilization and Association Agreement and Economic Reform programmes, chapters 14 (transport), 15 (energy), 21 (Trans-European networks), 22 (regional policy) and 27 (environment), and other chapters as required by the Head of Unit. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-D4ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (NEAR-D4[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. |
DEADLINE | 6 November 2024 |
ENTITY | Brussels – DG.NEAR.A.5 IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Programme Officer - Investment Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 450194 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | In support to the implementation of the Ukraine Facility, the overall purpose of this position is to steer – under the supervision of the Team Leader/Head of Sector – the efficient use of financial instruments (in particular EU budgetary guarantees and blended finance) to ensure that these instruments are used in line with the strategic priorities of DG NEAR. To this end, the jobholder will have to maintain close cooperation and coordination with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and private investors, throughout the origination and development of investment projects. These tools will be instrumental in implementing the Economic and Investment Plans (EIPs) for NEAR regions, the Global Gateway Strategy and the dedicated agreements/partnerships/plans put in place with individual countries which all aim to stimulate jobs and growth, support connectivity and the green and digital transition through (increased) investments in our partner countries. |
CONTACT | Barbara [dot] BANKIec [dot] europa [dot] eu (BANKI GARDINAL Barbara )(Head of Unit) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and possible renewal(s) where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 6 November 2024 |
ENTITY | Brussels – DG.NEAR.A.5 IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Programme Officer - Investment Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 450195 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | In support to the implementation of the Ukraine Facility, the overall purpose of this position is to steer – under the supervision of the Team Leader/Head of Sector – the efficient use of financial instruments (in particular EU budgetary guarantees and blended finance) to ensure that these instruments are used in line with the strategic priorities of DG NEAR. To this end, the jobholder will have to maintain close cooperation and coordination with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and private investors, throughout the origination and development of investment projects. These tools will be instrumental in implementing the Economic and Investment Plans (EIPs) for NEAR regions, the Global Gateway Strategy and the dedicated agreements/partnerships/plans put in place with individual countries which all aim to stimulate jobs and growth, support connectivity and the green and digital transition through (increased) investments in our partner countries. |
CONTACT | Barbara [dot] BANKIec [dot] europa [dot] eu (BANKI GARDINAL Barbara )(Head of Unit) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and possible renewal(s) where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 6 November 2024 |
ENTITY | Brussels – DG.NEAR.Dir.D.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Policy Officer - European Integration - Political desk |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 376809 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to the definition, coordination and implementation of EU policies concerning Kosovo, with a particular focus on the political criteria, political and bilateral relations. Close coordination with the EEAS, the EU Office in Pristina, the EU facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue team, international organisations and others. Relations with the European Parliament and Council working group. Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defence policy). Political reporting, preparation of briefings, and overall coordination of the annual report, EU-Kosovo SAA Council, co-secretary of the EU-Kosovo SAA Committee. |
CONTACT | Barbara [dot] JESUS-GIMENOec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JESUS-GIMENO Barbara)Barbara [dot] BANKIec [dot] europa [dot] eu ( )(Head of Unit) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. |
DEADLINE | 8 November 2024 |
ENTITY | Brussels – DG.NEAR.C.3 Institution Building ,TAIEX, Twinning |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Project Assistant |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 380353 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Organises technical assistance under the supervision of an official in close cooperation with Unit A.3 “Cyprus Settlement Support” of DG Reform. |
CONTACT | Fanny [dot] MARCHALec [dot] europa [dot] eu (MARCHAL Fanny )(Head of Unit) Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. |
DEADLINE | 13 November 2024 |
- Candidates should be aware that they are only eligible for posts which have at least the same function group level as the function group level of the EPSO test they succeeded (e.g. holder of a FGIV CAST are eligible for CA FG IV, III and II) or the function group for which they have registered within the Commission call for expression of interest for contract staff in generalist profiles.
- Candidates who passed an EPSO test which is still valid. Please bear in mind that for EPSO CAST 27, EPSO CAST 2008 and EPSO CAST 2010, only DB3 candidates who also passed the test held in July 2011 are eligible. Candidates who passed CAST Croatia cannot apply for vacant contract agent posts in EU delegation as this CAST competition was not organised in full (DB2 only).
Who may apply?
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- Posts in Headquarters are covered by 3b contracts. This means that a contract agent working in delegations and covered by 3a contracts selected for a post in Headquarters (outside the annual mobility exercise) will have to resign his/her 3a contract and conclude new 3b contract for maximum 6 years. First contract will be concluded for 1 year. Extension of 2 years will follow provided positive probation period report. Any subsequent extensions will be of 1 year up to a maximum of 6 years in total.
- The selection procedure is organised by NEAR Headquarters (unit to which the post is attached).
Who may apply?
- Contract agents who have served in the same job in the same delegation for at least 3 years or more.
- Contract agents whose request for early mobility on personal grounds outside the annual mobility exercise was accepted by Headquarters. Please note that contract agents included in the mobility exercise for duly substantiated personal reasons are automatically authorised to also apply for vacancies published outside the annual mobility exercise for the same reasons.
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- The selection procedure is organised by each delegation concerned;
- After a pre-selection based on the CVs, the delegation will invite pre-selected candidates to participate in a phone interview panel and will request the recruitment of the selected candidate to NEAR Headquarters for validation.